New study confirms the power of Deinosuchus and its 'teeth the size of bananas'

Date:
August 10, 2020
Source:
Taylor & Francis Group
Summary:
A new study, revisiting fossil specimens from the enormous
crocodylian, Deinosuchus, has confirmed that the beast had teeth
'the size of bananas', capable to take down even the very largest
of dinosaurs.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new study, revisiting fossil specimens from the enormous crocodylian, Deinosuchus, has confirmed that the beast had teeth "the size of bananas," capable to take down even the very largest of dinosaurs.


==========================================================================
And, it wasn't alone! The research, published in the Journal
of Vertebrate Paleontology, also reveals various kinds of "terror
crocodile." Two species, entitled Deinosuchus hatcheri and Deinosuchus riograndensis lived in the west of America, ranging from Montana to
northern Mexico. Another, Deinosuchus schwimmeri, lived along the Atlantic coastal plain from New Jersey to Mississippi. At the time, North America
was cut in half by a shallow sea extending from the Arctic Ocean south
to the present-day Gulf of Mexico.

Ranging in up to 33 feet in length Deinosuchus, though, has been known
to be one of the largest, if not the largest, crocodylian genera ever
in existence.

It was the largest predator in its ecosystem, outweighing even the
largest predatory dinosaurs living alongside them between 75 and 82
million years ago.

From previous studies of cranial remains and bite marks on dinosaur
fossil bones, paleontologists have long speculated that the massive
beasts preyed on dinosaurs.

Now this new study, led by Dr Adam Cossette sheds new light on the
monstrous creature and has further confirmed that z most certainly had
the head size and crushing jaw strength to do just that.



========================================================================== "Deinosuchus was a giant that must have terrorized dinosaurs that came
to the water's edge to drink," says Dr Cossette, from the New York
Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas
State University. "Until now, the complete animal was unknown. These
new specimens we've examined reveal a bizarre, monstrous predator with
teeth the size of bananas." Co-author Stephanie Drumheller-Horton, a paleontologist at the University of Tennessee, added: "Deinosuchus seems
to have been an opportunistic predator, and given that it was so enormous, almost everything in its habitat was on the menu." "We actually have
multiple examples of bite marks made by D. riograndensis and a species
newly described in this study, D. schwimmeri, on turtle shells and
dinosaur bones." In spite of the genus's name, which means "terror
crocodile," they were actually more closely related to alligators. Based
on its enormous skull, it looked like neither an alligator nor a
crocodile. Its snout was long and broad, but inflated at the front
around the nose in a way not seen in any other crocodylian, living or
extinct. The reason for its enlarged nose is unknown.

"It was a strange animal," says Brochu. "It shows that crocodylians
are not 'living fossils' that haven't changed since the age of
dinosaurs. They've evolved just as dynamically as any other group."
Deinosuchus disappeared before the main mass extinction at the end of
the age of dinosaurs (Meozoic). The reason for its extinction remains
unknown. From here, the authors call for me studies to further understand Deinosuchus.

"It had two large holes are present at the tip of the snout in front of
the nose," Dr Cossette says.

"These holes are unique to Deinosuchus and we do not know what they were
for, further research down the line will hopefully help us unpick this
mystery and we can learn further about this incredible creature."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Taylor_&_Francis_Group. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Adam P. Cossette, Christopher A. Brochu. A systematic review of
the giant
alligatoroid Deinosuchus from the Campanian of North America
and its implications for the relationships at the root of
Crocodylia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2020; e1767638 DOI:
10.1080/ 02724634.2020.1767638 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200810141002.htm

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